Enhancing the Science Communication Capabilities of Disabled Writers – The Moon as a Catalyst

Editor’s Note: This event has already occurred and this page exists for archival purposes.

We are looking for 12-20 people who:

1. Identify as disabled in the broadest sense; i.e. chronic illness, use mobility aids, d/Deaf, mental illness (anxiety, depression, etc.), neurodiverse (autistic, ADHD, etc.), use service animals, etc.
2. Use, or want to use, science in their writing in the broadest sense; such as – writing about space topics on platforms such as Medium, The Establishment, etc.; writing science fiction or other creative writing that might include positive views of science and the process of science; traditional science writers/freelancers; content creators for museums and planetaria; and people with wide social media platforms who curate space science content in interesting ways through tweets, blogs, Instagram, etc. Participants DO NOT have to have written specifically about science, but instead will use this retreat to understand how they can include an understanding of space science and the scientific process in their further output. Output may include YouTube videos, podcasts, articles, posts, editorials, poetry, science fiction, scripts, etc.
3. Want to commit to joining us for a seven week online retreat (with potential continuing partnerships) exploring how to develop and expand the use of science in their writing using cutting edge lunar NASA scientists and their research as a catalyst.
4. We would specifically like to encourage writers who may have multiple axes of marginalization to apply, including but certainly not limited to: women, trans/non-binary, people of color, Black writers, native/indigenous writers, various sexual identity, English as second language, etc.

What we will provide to writers:

• You do not need to pay for this retreat, if you are selected, we will in fact pay you a total stipend of $225 for participating (limited to US residents only).
• A seven-week virtual retreat via Zoom in January and February, 2022 (see below for full schedule)
• Each session is three hours of virtual face-to-face sessions, with content to include networking, scientist presentations, activities, writing prompts, and the development of a final project. Our retreat lead, Dr. JA Grier, is also a disabled writer as well as a research scientist.

Our goals for and through participating writers:

• To promote and support disabled writers interested in space science
• To introduce participants to each other and to us to create/reinforce a supportive network for writers/scientists
• Through these writers, to provide the public new voices in space science that intrinsically include disability and other concerns
• Through participants, to provide the public a positive view, a deeper understanding, and a trust of science and the scientific process
• Through participants, to increase the vectors by which the general public encounters informed and positive views of science (social media, advocacy groups, writer’s platforms, creative writing, etc.) as linked to and as a part of disability/intersectionality
• Through participants, to increase overall public science literacy, and critical thinking ability/opportunities.

Our goals for our TREX project, and its Scientists and Communicators:

• Promote overall outreach goals for TREX, SSERVI, and NASA.
• Give scientists an opportunity to share their research with the public.
• Give scientists more experience in science communication, and introduce them to issues around disability and sci-comm (science communication.)
• Give Communicators experience in meeting the needs of disabled audiences.
• Communicators will write papers/present posters both on how the retreat addressed the sci-comm needs of the general public, AND the specifics of reaching and working with disabled writers.
• Potential to edit and refine the retreat documents, recordings, and posted projects to create another retreat or other learning opportunity.

General Expectations for Disabled Writers 

These are general guidelines so that both participants and facilitators can start from the same ideas of what is expected. We will be flexible and provide accommodations as necessary to all participants.  All of us are seeking to learn how to engage and participate as science writers and as humans, and we will adjust as needed.

1. As we will be helping participants learn science, so will participants be helping us learn about disability communication.  Part of participation in this retreat will be helping us to engage properly with disabled writers; we as facilitators (and humans) will make mistakes and will make space for writers to point these out and suggest ways to address those issues.
2. Participants will need to be in contact with us before the retreat, and learn to use any tools/apps such as Zoom/Slack etc.
3. Participants will need to do any necessary preparation and be sure they (and we) have the equipment to participate.
4. Participants need to prepare to attend all of the face-to-face sessions.  BUT of course, this is going to be an accommodating environment – if a writer must miss all or part of a session, the session recordings and transcripts will be available to view/listen later.  We will have recordings and transcripts, etc. available in any case to increase the accessibility of the sessions.
5. Participants will need to stay attentive to Slack and do any necessary work between sessions.
6. Participants are expected to do a final writing project and share it with the world in some fashion.
7. Participants will need to agree to let us use materials, products, and recordings on a non-exclusive basis.  Retreat sessions will be recorded, and the materials of participants, including final projects, will be made available to participants in further training and retreats.  We need permission to post and use content created in the retreat for promotion, for seeking additional funding, and for improving future retreats.  This may include posting materials on our website, twitter account, etc.
8. We hope participants with each other and with us so that we can all increase the voice of disability in space science writing.  Depending on the advice and needs of writers, we may create a portal or gathering point we can all use subsequent to the retreat to keep in touch.
9. Future opportunities for participants may exist after the retreat, where we invite writers to attend conferences or meetings and present their work and their experience.

Retreat Schedule

7 weeks, 12 3-hour sessions from January 12, 2023 to February 23, 2023

Session 1: Thursday January 12th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 2: Wednesday January 18th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 3: Thursday January 19th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 4: Wednesday January 25th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 5: Thursday January 26th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 6: Wednesday February 1st from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 7: Thursday February 2nd from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 8: Wednesday February 8th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 9: Thursday February 9th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 10: Wednesday February 15th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 11: Thursday February 16th from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Session 12: Thursday February 23rd from 10am PT/1pm ET to 1pm PT/4pm ET

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed starting in December and reviewed on a first submitted basis. Participants will be alerted by December 15th. Late applications will be accepted until the retreat is full.

Retreat Facilitators